Walter Maurers "The Sanskrit Language" again

[Guest guest]

Dear list members,

 

I've just been leafing thru Walter Maurers "The Sanskrit Language" (which I

just received in the mail) and something nobody mentioned was his dry sense

of humor and his inclusion of wonderful asides with even a reference to King

Lear.

 

Just a few that had me cracking a smile.

 

p. 37 "This extremely prevalent usage is ... merely a so-called compendium

scripturae".

 

p.122 (on the definition of mRga as deer and/or animal) ..."cf. modern

English "deer" from Old English deor 'animal' and further note that the

meaning 'animal' was still current in Shakespearess time, as may be seen in

King Lear III.4.128 'rats and mice and such small deer'.

 

p.170 (on the epithet gangAdhara) "Note that the well-known Indian scholar

Bal Ghagadhar Tilak has this as his middle name."

 

p.176 Surely another example might conduce to greater clarity, and on this

occasion let us start with the unidiomatic, pedagogical format: 'The which

flower you see in the girl's hand, that is really beautiful'

 

p. 263 "It is ubiquitous in Sanskrit literature that a virtuous king...is

without progeny."

 

etc. etc.

 

An utterly charming book.

 

Harry Spier

371 Brickman Rd.

Hurleyville, New York

USA 12747

 

 

 

 

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